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http://www.elmundo.es/suplementos/salud/2007/717/1183759211.htmlAccording to a work published in the magazine ' Epidemiology', people who ingest more than two drinks of cola a day are putting their kidneys at risk. The authors, pertaining to the National Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences of North Carolina (the U.S.A.), observed, in a group of 465 patients diagnosed with renal damage, that those that consumed greater amounts of these refreshments had more probability of developing kidney stones and other pathologies in these organs. Since this consequences were not observed with other carbonated drinks and that it did not matter if the cola was diet or regular, scientists think that the damage of these products is not because of its caffein content, nor its sugar level. Apparently, the phosphoric acid, a conservante that gives to these refreshments its characteristic acid flavor (other soft drinks use citric compounds) could be the cause of this risk. The authors affirm at least for this reason that more research has to be done before advising against the ingestion of these products. Nevertheless, meanwhile, " moderation is always a good guideline".

I've had kidney stone three times, hospitalize once for them. Mountain Dew was on the top of the list, then coffee, tea and other carbonated beverages. But what did they give you for breakfast? Coffee or hot tea. For lunch and dinner? Coffee,Tea or Soda. So go figure. I did lay off the Mountain Dew but I'm a Pepsi, Ice tea and coffee drinker. I do drink cranberry juice every now and then.

When are these kidney stones suppose to happen? I am a Pepsi fiend but does drink flavored water on occasion. According to my doctor anything I drink would be a problem for me being diabetic. I tried drinking green tea,his reply was it has caffeine and will dehydrate me...Juice..any kind...his reply, it will affect my sugar. And drinking plain water is not going to cut it. Last time I got my kidneys ckecked they were functioning fine. Btw, how do you know if you have kidney stones?

My ex-boyfriend from whom I got HIV had kidney stones. It is very painful. They had to take him to the hospital and the stones where broken into smaller pieces with a machine that produces certain type of waves. Sometimes a stone came out when he went to pee. He showed them to me once. They are small and full of sharp edges that scratch all the urinary tract on their way out. It is extremely painful. I can still remember him covered in sweat and with a pain expression on his face.

As it was described to me it would have felt better to push and 8 lb kid out my ass, have been shot several times or have all four limbs broken at once. Now the first time I was hospitalize I would no doubt believed it. The pain was bad. The morphine was good, every 15 min. After you have your first attack you'll know when the others start and can get to the dr or ER and get a shot that will dilate your urethra and you can pass them, plus you will float out the door. You won't be able to drive, so make sure you take someone with you to do the driving. Don't believe it when they say you probably won't have another one for 7 years, that's hogwash. I had my second one in less than 3 years. Was in the hospital when I had my third a year after my second. I feel for anyone that has stones.